Hugh Randall Syme
Encyclopedia
Hugh Randall Syme GC
, GM & Bar
(20 February 1903 - 7 November 1965) was an Australian naval officer, bomb disposal
operative and newspaper proprietor. He was awarded the George Cross
for his actions in defusing unexploded bombs and landmines during the Second World War. Syme is one of only two people to be awarded the George Cross
, George Medal and Bar
, the other being John Bridge
.
and educated at the University of Melbourne
. His father was a journalist on the city newspaper The Age
which is still being published and which the family owned: Syme himself worked on the paper until the outbreak of war.
, the Royal Navy
's mine disposal and developing mine countermeasures establishment. He won the George Medal
in 1941 for defusing a series of mines, and was awarded a bar
to this in 1942 after defusing a mine lodged in a reservoir embankment in London.
In 1943 he was awarded the George Cross
"for great bravery and undaunted devotion to duty". He had carried out nineteen mine-recovery operations. The most important had taken place in November 1942 at Weston-super-Mare
, Somerset, where he defused a new mine known as a Type T. He had to hang upside down in a mudhole and endure painful electric shocks while insulating the wires for the detonator. His George Cross made him the most decorated member of the Royal Australian Navy
at that time. He returned to Australia in 1943 and set up a mine disposal unit at HMAS Cerberus
. However the unit was not used operationally, as the US Navy
controlled mine clearance operations in the Pacific area.
The story of his wartime service was told in "Softly Tread The Brave - A triumph over terror, devilry, and death by mine disposal officers John Stuart Mould, GC, GM and Hugh Randal Syme, GC, GM and Bar" - by Ivan Southall.
in 1953 but turned down a knighthood, feeling that he had performed no more than his duty. Hugh Syme died on the 7 November 1965 from a cerebral tumour at Epworth Hospital, Richmond, and was cremated with Anglican rites and full naval honours.
George Cross
The George Cross is the highest civil decoration of the United Kingdom, and also holds, or has held, that status in many of the other countries of the Commonwealth of Nations...
, GM & Bar
George Medal
The George Medal is the second level civil decoration of the United Kingdom and Commonwealth.The GM was instituted on 24 September 1940 by King George VI. At this time, during the height of The Blitz, there was a strong desire to reward the many acts of civilian courage...
(20 February 1903 - 7 November 1965) was an Australian naval officer, bomb disposal
Bomb disposal
Bomb disposal is the process by which hazardous explosive devices are rendered safe. Bomb disposal is an all encompassing term to describe the separate, but interrelated functions in the following fields:*Military:...
operative and newspaper proprietor. He was awarded the George Cross
George Cross
The George Cross is the highest civil decoration of the United Kingdom, and also holds, or has held, that status in many of the other countries of the Commonwealth of Nations...
for his actions in defusing unexploded bombs and landmines during the Second World War. Syme is one of only two people to be awarded the George Cross
George Cross
The George Cross is the highest civil decoration of the United Kingdom, and also holds, or has held, that status in many of the other countries of the Commonwealth of Nations...
, George Medal and Bar
George Medal
The George Medal is the second level civil decoration of the United Kingdom and Commonwealth.The GM was instituted on 24 September 1940 by King George VI. At this time, during the height of The Blitz, there was a strong desire to reward the many acts of civilian courage...
, the other being John Bridge
John Bridge
Lieutenant Commander John Bridge GC, GM & bar was a British bomb disposal expert of the Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve during the Second World War...
.
Early life
He was born in Kew, MelbourneMelbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
and educated at the University of Melbourne
University of Melbourne
The University of Melbourne is a public university located in Melbourne, Victoria. Founded in 1853, it is the second oldest university in Australia and the oldest in Victoria...
. His father was a journalist on the city newspaper The Age
The Age
The Age is a daily broadsheet newspaper, which has been published in Melbourne, Australia since 1854. Owned and published by Fairfax Media, The Age primarily serves Victoria, but is also available for purchase in Tasmania, the Australian Capital Territory and border regions of South Australia and...
which is still being published and which the family owned: Syme himself worked on the paper until the outbreak of war.
World War II
He was a keen amateur yachtsman and part-owner of an 82 feet (25 m) yacht, and joined the Royal Australian Naval Volunteer Reserve on the outbreak of war. He was posted to England and ended up at HMS VernonHMS Vernon (shore establishment)
HMS Vernon was a shore establishment or 'stone frigate' of the Royal Navy. Vernon was established on 26 April 1876 as the Royal Navy's Torpedo Branch and operated until 1 April 1996, when the various elements comprising the establishment were split up and moved to different commands.-Foundation...
, the Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
's mine disposal and developing mine countermeasures establishment. He won the George Medal
George Medal
The George Medal is the second level civil decoration of the United Kingdom and Commonwealth.The GM was instituted on 24 September 1940 by King George VI. At this time, during the height of The Blitz, there was a strong desire to reward the many acts of civilian courage...
in 1941 for defusing a series of mines, and was awarded a bar
Medal bar
A medal bar or medal clasp is a thin metal bar attached to the ribbon of a military decoration, civil decoration, or other medal. It is most commonly used to indicate the campaign or operation the recipient received the award for, and multiple bars on the same medal are used to indicate that the...
to this in 1942 after defusing a mine lodged in a reservoir embankment in London.
In 1943 he was awarded the George Cross
George Cross
The George Cross is the highest civil decoration of the United Kingdom, and also holds, or has held, that status in many of the other countries of the Commonwealth of Nations...
"for great bravery and undaunted devotion to duty". He had carried out nineteen mine-recovery operations. The most important had taken place in November 1942 at Weston-super-Mare
Weston-super-Mare
Weston-super-Mare is a seaside resort, town and civil parish in the unitary authority of North Somerset, which is within the ceremonial county of Somerset, England. It is located on the Bristol Channel coast, south west of Bristol, spanning the coast between the bounding high ground of Worlebury...
, Somerset, where he defused a new mine known as a Type T. He had to hang upside down in a mudhole and endure painful electric shocks while insulating the wires for the detonator. His George Cross made him the most decorated member of the Royal Australian Navy
Royal Australian Navy
The Royal Australian Navy is the naval branch of the Australian Defence Force. Following the Federation of Australia in 1901, the ships and resources of the separate colonial navies were integrated into a national force: the Commonwealth Naval Forces...
at that time. He returned to Australia in 1943 and set up a mine disposal unit at HMAS Cerberus
HMAS Cerberus, Victoria
HMAS Cerberus is the Royal Australian Navy's primary training establishment, located adjacent to Crib Point on the Mornington Peninsula, south of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. It is also an official bounded locality of the Shire of Mornington Peninsula...
. However the unit was not used operationally, as the US Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
controlled mine clearance operations in the Pacific area.
The story of his wartime service was told in "Softly Tread The Brave - A triumph over terror, devilry, and death by mine disposal officers John Stuart Mould, GC, GM and Hugh Randal Syme, GC, GM and Bar" - by Ivan Southall.
Later life
He returned to The Age and became general manager in 1946. He continued in senior posts in newspapers and broadcasting for the rest of his life. He was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Coronation MedalQueen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal
The Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal was a commemorative medal made to celebrate the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II.-Issue:For Coronation and Jubilee medals, the practice up until 1977 was that United Kingdom authorities decided on a total number to be produced, then allocated a proportion to...
in 1953 but turned down a knighthood, feeling that he had performed no more than his duty. Hugh Syme died on the 7 November 1965 from a cerebral tumour at Epworth Hospital, Richmond, and was cremated with Anglican rites and full naval honours.